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Tuesday is Saint Patrick’s Day, and despite its rich history it’s known by most Americans as a day to drink lots of Irish whiskey and beer. To be fair, Saint Patrick got that reputation by giving Catholics a drinking pass during Lent. “And it provided a sort of nice mid-point break in lent where everyone could go crazy, and I think that’s probably the reason it’s turned into the colossal drinking holiday it is today.” That’s Andrew Schmitt, and he loves all things beer, including beer history. It so happens he also went to Catholic school. Schmitt says it’s odd that Saint Patrick is deemed the drinking Saint, especially since there is literally a patron Saint of beer.

Today we’re doing the weather. Dave Snider is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He does a daily statewide forecast for public television stations. The final product you see is full of graphics, but inside the massive TV studio it’s just Snider and a single green screen.

Today we meet a pair of Alaskans who run the business Salmon Sisters. Emma and Claire Laukitis were born and raised on the Aleutian Islands near False Pass. Emma says it was quiet and simple upbringing.

Today we’re playing Christmas music. Now, we could spend time talking about the songs you’ve already heard a hundred times, or we could do something different. Don’t get me wrong we like the classics, but today we’re going to uncover some Christmas gems. And to do that I’ve brought in Town Square 49 regular Spencer Shroyer, aka DJ Spencer Lee.

Today we’re trying to sell cookies online. Last week the Girl Scouts of America announced that in 2015 they will introduce the Digital Cookie program. The program will allow Girl Scouts to sell their cookies online. The only problem? Alaska won’t be participating.

Today we’re buying a landmark, trying to anyway. Kim Sollien is the Mat Su Program Director for Great Land Trust, a conservation group. She said they didn’t realize the Butte was privately owned until just this year.

It seems to be fairly universal that everyone is growing weary of the constant barrage of attack ads. To help us lighten the mood a bit as we race to the November 4th finish line, KSKA’s Dave Waldron found a way to bring levity to the attack.

October is here, and that means the reign of the pumpkin has begun. Many of us will be eating pumpkin pie in the coming months, or maybe seeds from our jack o lanterns. But there are some who desire more pumpkin, and they get it through beer.

Today we’re hunting for mushrooms. Now you may have heard radio stories about mushroom foragers or mushroom experts, but Heidi Drygas is neither of those. Drygas writes the food blog Chena Girl Cooks, and she’s harvested just about everything Alaska has to offer, but mushrooms have always been the last thing on her list.

Today we hear a story from Mike Byers, a writer for the website “Growing Up Anchorage.” The site focuses on tales from the early days of Alaska’s largest city. Mike’s story is titled “The Sand Lake Boys.”

Today we’re making caviar Alaska style; made from salmon roe. Natasha Price writes the food and crafts blog Alaska Knit Nat, and she recently posted a how-to guide for making salmon caviar. It’s a family recipe, and one that Natasha didn’t really like growing up.

Today we learn the history of the Spenard windmill in Anchorage. Mike Gordon is the owner of Chilkoot Charlie’s, and the windmill housed in the bar’s parking lot. He’s had it for about 30 years, but it was originally built in the early ’60s by Byron Gillam, an Anchorage businessman. It passed through several different owners before Mike Gordon’s reputation helped him land it.

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Mission: To serve as a trusted public forum and education source that inspires Alaskans with stories of their time and place, informs them with news from the local to the global, and connects them to a statewide community through shared experiences and interests.